84: Stop Comparing, Start Leading With Confidence

Not fit enough. Not successful enough. Not teaching well enough. You're not alone—even seasoned fitness professionals fall into the comparison trap. 

In this honest and relatable episode of Group X Appeal, Kimberly and Terry get real about how social media quietly chips away at confidence and what it takes to break free from the endless cycle of comparison.

Discover why you're comparing your real life to everyone else's highlight reel (and what's really happening behind those "perfect" posts), how to shift focus from image to impact, and the surprising reason mindless scrolling sabotages your entire day. 

Learn why celebrating your own wins matters more than counting someone else's followers, and how to transform comparison from a trap into actual inspiration.

Whether you're an instructor battling self-doubt, a fitness enthusiast feeling "less than," or anyone tired of the comparison game stealing your joy, this conversation delivers five practical strategies to reclaim your confidence. 

The moment you stop comparing is the moment you start leading. Ready to break free? Tune in now!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - @groupxappeal.

Questions or topic ideas? Email us @ groupxappeal@gmail.com

Get your FREE Guide To Holistic Well-Being here: https://gxaguide.com/

Stay Connected with Kimberly:
- @kimberlyspreenglick on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
- email: kimberly@theinspiredlifeuniversity.com
- website: www.theinspiredlifeuniversity.com

Stay Connected with Terry:
- @terryshorter on Instagram & Facebook
- email: terry@rippedplanet.com
- website: www.rippedplanet.com

Transcript

scroll through social media and suddenly feel like you're not doing enough. Not fit enough, not successful enough. Yeah, us too and today we're calling it out the comparison trap. Let's talk about how social media is impacting confidence and how to break free from it.

Kimberly/terry (00:20)
Welcome to Group X Appeal. Terry Shorter here with... Kimberly Spreen Glick Oh, we're so excited to be here celebrating episode number 84. And today is all about... What are we talking about today? I think we're talking about not comparing. Yeah. Yeah. Do you ever do that? Yes. Still at this stage in your game? You know, I think it's kind of a human trap that we fall into. That's why we refer to it as the comparison trap. It's an easy trap to fall into with everything going on.

For sure, for sure. And especially with social media, right? So that's, think, where the most amount of comparison happens. And, you know, social media can inspire us, but at the same time, it also can quietly chip away at our confidence, right? She and I included, for sure. You know, you see the perfect lighting, you see the perfect bodies, you see the perfect classes. Like in yoga, you see the perfect yoga poses, right? Right, right. With all the fancy party trick options and everything.

We're not immune to it either as long as we've been doing this. I'm not immune, you know suddenly

You see this on social media, you start comparing. We compare our journey, we compare our class attendance. If someone pulls their class, we compare our energy, our success. But here's the truth. You're seeing the highlight reel, not the full story. Absolutely. Absolutely. So today we're going to give you five different ways that you can break free comparison from comparison, whether you are an instructor or whether you're a class participant, a group fitness lover, right? And so ⁓

Like Kimberly just said, tip number one, remember that what you're seeing, it truly is a highlight reel, right? You're comparing your real life to someone else's best moments. And I say that because as creators, right, for content, ⁓ we, a lot of times, we don't get it perfect in one take.

As a of fact, we never get it perfect. If y'all could see our B-roll, I'm telling you, let us know if you would like us to put together a blooper reel because we have the content to do so. Oh yeah, it's a treasure trove. More than one. More than one reel.

Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, there's not just the multiple takes that people take that you don't see, right? The lighting is not necessarily perfect, right? They could use some filters to enhance the visual, right? Audio as well. A lot of times the audio is not, not solid. A lot of times we have to line up the audio to make sure it's matching our lips. did a bit of this, a little bit of that, right? So

my audio. right, same way. That's how you lined it up girl. So yeah there's a bunch of different ⁓ tips, different kinds of tricks, different technologies that you can use nowadays to make things look really pristine. Yeah. Right, but that's not what we're all looking for. It's not real. So it's not authentic. Absolutely. And then this is a tip I think that really speaks to the instructors out there.

You got into this because you want to make positive impact on people's lives, right? That's how we got into it. It matters that we lift people up, that we make a difference. Focus on that. Focus on your impact. Not the image of others that you're seeing out there on social media. Not even your image for that matter. Because when you focus on you, we tend to fall into the comparison and the fear. But if you focus on your class, your people...

the positive influence you have on their day, I mean, that ultimately then becomes a positive influence on their lives. That's just, that's so powerful. And I think the moment I feel that comparison sneak in or any kind of fear or doubt, that is a sign, a surefire sign that I'm focusing on me when I really want to put the focus on the people I hope to serve. And that's legacy, right? When you focus on other people and the... ⁓

that you can have that just the positive influence that you can have on them it really kind of creates that ⁓ domino effect right that ripple effect that leads into other people's lives as well so it's not just a fleeting moment where you're it's a quick scroll through at all so ⁓ yeah focus on them absolutely number three I'd have to say is this one's really important is limit that mindless scrolling

Right right a lot of times it's for some reason for a lot of folks. It's the first thing they do in the morning Seriously, it's the first thing that people do in the morning. I cannot either because Nine chance out of ten you're gonna run into some negative stuff and then your day just kind of spy right Yeah, mindless scrolling it just kind of

kind of lead you down a rabbit hole and a lot of times it's not a productive one at all.

⁓ That's when that compares, you get caught in that comparison trap like instantly, instantly. And it's just not the best way to kick off the day, especially if you want a productive day to happen. So be intentional with what you consume. ⁓ 90 chance out of 10 nowadays with the algorithms on Facebook and Instagram, you are not getting the most positive ⁓ content, unfortunately. ⁓ You're getting a bunch of stuff and then you're getting ads on top.

of

that that you didn't even sign up for. You have a conversation about the Apple watch and you suddenly start getting ads for Apple watch. How do they know? It's a crazy thing. And then you start thinking, oh I need an Apple watch. They're showing me an Apple watch. I don't have an Apple watch. I'm not good enough. Right? There you go. Even the ads are out to get us. I know.

And I mean, we're not saying social media is bad. We're on social media. But when it comes to potentially falling into the endless loop of scrolling, when it comes time to maybe check in on social media, because you do want to check in and maybe support those that you are connected to and whatnot, maybe just set a time.

I literally I have 7 a.m. And then I have 5 p.m. 7 a.m. And 5 p.m. Is to check in real quick and get the heck off. Yeah, right and those only two times I can't otherwise you just death scroll the only thing I could think about when he was just sharing that was the fact that he already said he does not scroll as soon as he wakes up, but he

said the first time he checks in is 7 a.m. which means dude gets up way too early. Just an observation. He's one of those crazy people that teaches at like 5 45 in the morning but it is worth getting up for I will say that. Well thank you. So another tip for you is and I mean gosh.

This applies across the board if you're looking for more fuel for the journey, more inspiration, more...

just support to keep moving forward on anything that you're doing, whether it's teaching, taking class, whatever, celebrate your wins. When your focus is on celebrating your wins, no matter how big or small they are, well then it can no longer be on comparing where you are with where someone else is. It's just about celebrating where you are or what you've just accomplished. So with what you're doing, with the work that you do, with the work you're doing for yourself or on yourself, celebrate your wins.

that'll

take the focus off, you know, how everyone else is doing and just really get that, not just a dopamine hit, but that the dopamine hit is important and it definitely, it fuels the journey even more. But just recognizing and reveling in the good work you've already done. So celebrate your wins. There you go. Revel, baby, revel. Revel. Revel up.

Yes. It's powerful. It is. I do. So if you don't know what she's talking about, her power goal setting ⁓ technique, strategy, ⁓ formula. It's all those things. It's all those things and a bag of chips. The R in power, it's an acronym, you know, for a goal setting process that you can learn that she certifies folks in. The R at the very end stands for rebel, which is like so, so critical in order to win.

So check that out too. Visit Kimberly's site, inspiredlifeuniversity.com. inspired life university. Because there is no other. So check it out. So number five is turn comparison into inspiration. Right? So why not, instead of saying, why not me, right? Shift that, that, that kind of that thinking to what can I learn? So,

Perfect example of this I would compare again. We all do this. I would compare You know dancers, right? I'm not a dancer. I can teach a dance. Why I'm not a dancer I always I've always I've always described myself as a singer who can move

Right? And so when I would go on to social media and I still do this, I catch myself doing this, ⁓ I love watching dancers, like different choreography that they'll put together. I'm like, gosh, I wish I can do that. ⁓ I can't do that. Really? Yeah, I do. get caught in that. I'm too old for that. My knees can't do that.

So, instead I figured out a way, you know, basically what I'll do is I'll screen record some of the best choreography that I absolutely love. Right. And then I'll flip it and then I'll slow it down so I can learn, learn the choreography. can pick it up step by step, piece by piece. And instead of saying, not me? I can't do that. I can't, can't, I can't, can't. I always say, how can I do that? So I figured out a way how to do it. It's growth mindset. Absolutely. Absolutely. I may not pick it up quickly.

But eventually I pick it up, but I do just have to say for the record. ⁓ like Okay, if any of you have ever danced with Terry I'm gonna need you to comment So that you can back me up on this And if you follow him on social media on his account Terry shorter

You'll see some of the dances he teaches at the clubs. Just trust me or don't trust me and go look for yourself, but I swear he's not being... ⁓

good enough to himself there. stop. Well, like I said, the very beginning, right? ⁓ lots of takes, lots and lots of takes. It's the highlight reel ⁓ she's referring to. ⁓ So, you know, again, the moment that you stop comparing is going to be the moment.

that you start leading. Well said, definitely. Your authenticity will always connect deeper than perfection ever could. We as humans, we don't connect through perfection. We actually connect through our cracks. We connect through... Do we though? As soon as I said it out loud, I was just like, here we go.

We connect with the fact that we're not perfect. We all have cracks and dings in the armor. There we That's my point. There we go. And we connect through that shared experience, not through feeling like the person in front of us is perfect. None of us are perfect. No. goodness. Not yet. yet. Take two. Take two.

So if this resonated with you, please, we encourage you to share it with someone who needs the reminder. I think we all do. I don't care how long you've been in this industry or doing whatever you do in your line of work or as a parent, right? ⁓ Tell us, how do you stay confident in a comparison-heavy world? ⁓

Inspire us. We gave a few tips on our end. We'd love to hear from you as well. So if you're on YouTube, you could definitely comment below. If you're on Apple or Spotify, leave us a review. Let us know what you're thinking. And if you see this as a clip somewhere on social media, you can comment there or send us a message. We'd love to hear from you. So please follow along, share the episode, like.

all the things, all the things and we do appreciate your support. Absolutely. So that is it for us today. Episode number 83, 84. This is 84. Give me some depth. How awesome. We look forward to seeing you again in episode number 85. Appreciate you. Thank you. And until we meet again, we encourage you to make it a great day. And why Kimberly? Cause it is a great day to have. Yes it is.